DRS helping to keep the country rolling

The team at Direct Rail Services (DRS) has pulled out all the stops to make sure it can carry on delivering essential services throughout the Covid-19 outbreak.

The specialist rail freight company, a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), provides rail transport to a range of vital sectors, including nuclear power stations, logistics and distribution for supermarkets, passenger rail as well as helping maintain the UK’s rail network.

The Carlisle-based firm has enacted its business continuity plans and put in place extra layers of safety and protection for all its staff working across the UK – from train crew to engineering and maintenance teams through to train planners and the essential office-based staff that keep the trains running on time.

Chris Connelly, Managing Director, said:

“We have an important role to play to help keep the country going during these difficult times. DRS’ services make sure the country’s nuclear power stations can keep working, food and other goods are available on supermarket shelves, key workers can get to their place of work, and the rail infrastructure can be maintained.

“Everyone at DRS is doing an absolutely fantastic job – all our colleagues have pulled together to ensure we can carry on working at the same time as helping protect each other.”

DRS’ intermodal work has been crucial, delivering vital supplies for supermarkets up and down the country. Their distinctive locomotives are moving thousands of shipping containers every week – with DRS initially running some of its longest trains to keep up with demand.

NDA Chief Executive, David Peattie, said:

“DRS plays a crucial role in the NDA’s mission – safely transporting materials across the UK to support nuclear decommissioning and EDF Energy’s operating power stations. Their non-nuclear work, keeping the supermarket shelves full and helping keep the rail network running for key workers, has never been more important.”